Michele Bourquin - artist

8x10 mixed media on canvas
Graphite, collage, and embroidery

Yet another version of 'in flight'! This one pops up in my ideas again and again!

Untitled
11x14 mixed media on canvas. (White charcoal, applique, collage, and embroidery)

'She's still pretty, so that's ok'
19x24 mixed media on paper. (Graphite, embroidery, applique, pastel, and collage)

Inspired from a true crime podcast, where the police stood over the body of a young woman talking amongst themselves. In their struggle to deal with the terrible crime, they consoled themselves with how beautiful she still was.
I was deeply affected by the fact that it appeared her beauty was more highly valued than her life.


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...and now for something completely different!

A few months ago, I unpacked my childhood collection of model horses and stumbled upon a modern-day hobby filled with custom painted horses and resculpting.
Of course, it was only a matter of time before I tried my hand at it myself!

I've repainted a couple, but this is my first resculpt, and it's been completely engrossing! I can't wait until these two are ready for their paint!

Stablemate size Arabian mare and resculpted standing foal.

At the end of this month, I will be attending the regional dressage championship. The Arizona Dressage Association is putting on a fantastic show with many events, including a silent auction. Three of my paintings will be included in baskets with other horse health and wellness products!

Stop by the show, enjoy some dressage, and bid on a basket!

West world. September 29th - October 1st

At the end of this month I will be attending the regional dressage championship hosted by Arizona Dressage Association (ADA). They are putting on a fantastic show including a silent auction! Three of my paintings will be available in gift baskets that also include wonderful horse health care products and services!

Come vist the show, watch some great dressage and bid on a basket!

West world. September 29th - October 1st

WIP

I've been off doing boring experiments trying to figure out technical problems with the embroidery experiment. (...and painting tiny horse statues. More on that later!)

One of my possible solutions is drawing directly onto the canvas instead of gluing drawings done on paper. My first reaction was NOT favorable(SO many bad words!🤣) The canvas tooth did not allow the finely controlled detail that I love in drawing.

After forcing myself to keep going, I'm feeling happier about it. I was forced to work bigger and looser. I was forced to let go. Now on to embroidery!

It's been a minute since I checked in here, but I've been busy...and hot...very hot! We are in the ongoing drama of a 110°++ heat wave that has been going on for 30 days and has no end in sight. I'm tired and not very motivated after taking care of the horses immediate needs.

Since last we talked? ...I've almost finished the current WIP, Rediscovered model horses, started work on a logo for a dear friend, started doing custom work on the newly Rediscovered models and am thrilled with my newest Breyer model purchase!

There are lots of new pieces in the works and plans for 2D/model combination pieces...if only the weather would break!

TBT
'Old school'
Graphite on paper

This week's TBT goes WAY back! This was on the cover of 'The Chronicle of the Horse' magazine back in 2011!

WIP
22X28 Mixed media on canvas
Graphite,applique, collage and embroidery

The new piece is coming along! It's nice to have a horse on the table again!

WIP

I'm ready to glue down finally and not a moment too soon! I need to reclaim my living room.
It's fabric chaos right now😂

WIP

There's nothing like a little vacation from the studio to make me excited to get to work again! It's been too long since a horse visited my work. I'm glad this one is here now.

This one won't be as large as 'We were witches once' (I'm really still recovering from her!) but it's still going to be reasonably good sized.

I planned to take a short art break after finishing 'We were witches once', and the timing couldn't be better. We are in Temecula showing all week!

I plan to get some source photos, enjoy the great weather and have a fun week showing!

'We were witches once'

40x30 mixed media on canvas
Graphite, applique, collage, and embroidery.

I think she is done.
I'll spend a few days gazing at her before I decide for certain.

I will never deny that I'm a supplies hoarder!😂

I DO wish everything was still as organized and neat as it started out. Maybe when I finish the current piece, I'll take a day and sort everything out...maybe!

I took a little art break this weekend and drove down to Tucson with friends to audit the ! Lots of fun, learning and only a little wine😂.

Art life will resume on Monday!

No one warned me about how much making art involves staring at things upside from across the room!😂

'Pas de deux'
10x10 oil on canvas
Private collection

It's throw back Thursday again!

This one was obtained as a wedding gift for a wonderful young couple. Art beats the hell out of a vase as a wedding gift any day!

WIP
40x30 mixed media on canvas.
Graphite, applique, collage, and embroidery.

It's the home stretch! She is getting really, really close. There are a few more elements to work out and some details to refine, but I can see the final waiting for me!

We had a fantastic night supporting at the show opening at last night! Phil is a member of and everyone is so pleased about his participation in this show!

If you have never been to the Mesa gallery- GO! What a wonderful place! The current show is really wonderful and the opening was very well attended and had a great band providing live music, small food and a cash bar. I'm definitely going again!

Throw back Thursday!

'The pearl earring'
Acrylic on paper

WIP

So much finished...so much left to do!

TBT!

Untitled
8x10 Acrylic on cradled wood
Private collection

It's 'throw back Thursday' again and a piece from past years! Mostly so I don't post ANOTHER WIP of the current piece😂. Never fear there are more updates to come!

WIP
30x40 mixed media on canvas
Graphite, applique and embroidery

The 'Livingroom takeover' continues! 😂

I'm so interested in working on her every moment of the day it's hard to get anything done. I have forced myself to schedule non-art time so that important things get done!

This is a favorite book from my childhood. It is rare-ish and I've been looking for a copy I could afford for a long time. I finally found one! It still has the check out cards intact and was last checked out in 1975. Coincidentally about the same year I would have last checked it out! I couldn't be more pleased!
..the down side...I don't think much work will get done until I finish reading my new treasure!

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WIP
30X40 Mixed media on canvas.
Graphite, applique, and embroidery

There's enough progress now to start getting excited by how it looks!

A fun morning out picking up supplies from Town needlework and a visit to the !

I now have replenished my ribbon stash and scored some SMOCA swag!

WIP
30X40 Mixed media on canvas
Graphite, applique, and embroidery

Let's hope my back holds out! 😂

TBT!

'Waiting'
9x12 Acrylic on paper
Private collection

'Throw back Thursday' to a piece from last year!